Homemade Seasoning Powder

June 1, 2012

Whenever I need to use seasoning powder at home, I prefer my own Homemade Seasoning Powder. I’m a huge fan of modern conveniences, and every day I wake up happy of the luck of having been born at a time when science and technology have allowed me to live and survive in relative comfort.

This hasn’t blinded me to the things that we would have been better off not changing. The one closest to my heart is the way we eat: each day more synthetic, more industrial.

Fortunately a lot of our daily food is still made from fresh, natural ingredients. The vast majority of Dominicans still chop their onions and crush their garlic every day. We still use dry or fresh pulses and legumes. Good for us! And even if I am not here to criticize anyone’s tastes (“people who live in glass houses” and all that jazz…), I like to write our recipes in a way that encourages people to eat more naturally, healthier.

We choose ingredients not only on the basis of flavor, but also with an eye on their nutritional value and quality. That’s how we eat at home. We have nothing against the occasional use of convenience products, but they are best chosen with a careful reading of the ingredients, and we don’t make a habit of it.

I know that it’s often all a matter of time, but with a little investment of time, and even less money than industrial seasonings, we can end up with a superior product.

So why take the time to make Homemade Seasoning Powder?

It’s made from ingredients we already have. And it tastes better. I swear that the constant use of all these all-purpose seasonings accomplish little more than dulling the taste. It’s like using an axe where a scalpel is required.

Another reason to make this seasoning powder is to save a bunch of herbs from ending in the trash. I don’t like wasting food. Once you see how easy it is to make this you too will be loath to pay for seasoning powder. Homemade is best.

Aunt Clara

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Homemade Seasoning Powder Recipe

Prep Time

1hrs10mins

Cook Time

1hrs

Total Time

2hr10mins

Homemade Seasoning Powder: What to do with herbs going bad? This seasoning powder (dominican sazon) solves that and helps shorten preparation time.

Servings: 1cup (aprox.)

Author: Clara Gonzalez

Ingredients

A bunch of parsley

A bunch of thyme

A bunch of cilantro

3sprigs of fresh oregano

2large onions, cut into very thin slices

2head of garlic, the cloves cut into very thin slices

2tablespoonsof coarse sea salt

1tablespoonof whole peppercorns

Instructions

How to make seasoning powder

Place the parsley, thyme, cilantro, oregano, onion and garlic on a baking tray. Dry in the oven at 180 ºF (or lowest temperature your oven reaches) for one hour, or until all the ingredients are dry.

Remove from the oven and get rid of the oregano and thyme twigs, leaving only the dry leaves.

Mix with peppercorns and salt and pulse in the food processor until it turns into the desired consistency.

How to store seasoning powder

Save in a tight-fitting lid jar in a fresh and dry spot.

How to use seasoning powder

Use to season beans, pulses, fish, and meats.

Notes & Nutrition Facts

Do you have any other herb at hand (leek, chives, culantro, etc.)? Throw them in too!

I am late to this party, but my stumbling upon your post lends to the fact that everything on the web stays relevant. I moved to the continental US three years ago and misses seasoning with herbs. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.

Oh wow, and here I was packing up big pots of seasoning every time I traveled to DR! I have all the ingredients fresh in my garden, now that know I can “dry” them so easily, I’m sure going to give this a try. Thanks a lot tia Clara!